Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 23, 1994 TAG: 9407250051
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Boucher called the accusation ``absurd'' and ``but another example of the most negative campaign that has been waged in the history of the 9th District.''
Fast based his charge on a quote from Boucher that appeared in an article in newspapers in Wythe and Bland counties.
The article, which covered many issues in the race, said Boucher was asked about the Citizen Self-Defense Act, which Fast supports. Boucher replied that he was unaware of that specific legislation.
Andy Kegley, the Family Community Newspapers reporter who wrote the story in the Southwest Virginia Enterprise and Bland Messenger, confirmed that answer Friday.
Fast and several pro-gun activists appearing with him at news conferences Friday in Abingdon, Bluefield, Norton and Wytheville said that showed Boucher was giving different answers at different times.
Bill Stump of Dublin and Dennis Frith of Radford produced letters in Wytheville from Boucher, who was responding to their requests that he support the act, assuring them that he would do so. The act would allow people to sue for damages in federal court over violations of rights to obtain firearms for security or self-defense.
``Well, he was lying then and he's lying now,'' declared Stump, a pro-gun activist for the past eight years. If Boucher really supported the act, Stump said, he would sign on as a co-sponsor.
Boucher said the segment quoted by Fast was pulled from a small part of a lengthy interview with Kegley. He said he did not recognize the name of the bill when Kegley asked his views on it, but, as his letters show, he knows its substance and already has gone on record as supporting it.
He said Friday he also will support it when it comes before the House Judiciary Committee, on which he serves.
``I can understand our congressman not being aware of every single piece of legislation before Congress, but he should certainly be aware of the bills brought before his own committee, especially a bill he has been claiming to support for over 14 months,'' Fast said.
More than 4,800 bills have been introduced in the House during this session, Boucher said, and more than 1,400 are going before the Judiciary Committee. He said it is unrealistic to believe that a member of Congress would know all their names.
Boucher said his own views on gun control are the same as those of Southwest Virginia gun owners, hunters and Fast himself. ``We are all strongly opposed to gun control,'' he said.
He said he voted against a five-day waiting period to purchase handguns and against legislation banning assault weapons. ``It is unfortunate that my opponent slings mud and engages in misrepresentation rather than focusing on issues of concern to our region,'' he said.
``I take my right to use a firearm to protect my family very, very seriously,'' Fast said and, if elected, would sign on as a co-sponsor of the act to make it clear to President Clinton ``that he's not going to take away the guns of Southwest Virginians.''
He maintained that Boucher is not aggressive enough in defending gun rights. ``One of the principle planks of my campaign is that we are going to go on the offense to protect the right to bear arms,'' he said.
In response to a reporter's question, Fast said he has received no cash campaign contributions from the Gun Owners of America or National Rifle Association to date.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB